Abrasive band



Nov. 21, 1944;

W. T. ANDERSON ABRASIVE BAND Filed Jan. 8, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet lllulmnuup NOV. 21, 1944. w, T, ANDERSON 2,362,979

ABRAS IVE BAND Filed Jan. 8, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H H ga ",6,

'5 H 28 I I Md/o/flyyz/ 145775777 T/lzwemm l6 -l4 Patented Nov. 21, 1944UNITED ABRASIVE BAND William T. Anderson, Des Plaines, I1l., assignor toContourSaws, Incorporated, Des Plaines, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication January 8, 1944, Serial No. 517,505

6 Claims. (Cl. 51-188) This invention relates to abrading machines ofthe flexibl band type, and has as its object to provide an abrading bandin which the se ments of the band carrying the abrasive are directlysupported against the thrust of the work and rigidly held againstdisplacement from their straight lin movement through the working zoneeven though the lateral thrust applied on the bands may be substantial.

In the endless band type of abrading or filing machine heretofore inuse, the filing or abrading elements were so mounted on the endlessflexible carrier that the direct thrust of the work on the abradingsurface was applied against the face of the carrier, 1. e., against theflat side of the bandlike carrier. Consequently, the carrier (whether itwa a band or a chain) had to be interposed between the abrading elementsand the stationary guide and back-up which supports and guides theabrading elements in their passage through the working zone. It wasdifficult, therefore, to rigidly support the filing or abradingelements, particularly against lateral thrust.

Hence, this invention has as an object to provide' a bar for abradingelements wherein the actual abrasive surface is along an edge of thesegments mounted on the flexible carrier and wherein the rigid guide andback-up directly engages the segments at their opposite edge to supportthem against lateral, as well as direct, thrust and wherein the flexibleband or other carrier is attached to one face of the segment.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for securing theabradin elements 'per se to their carrying segments whereby the abradingelements are engaged only at their ends and no part of the securingmeans is exposed on the abrading surface.

In this respect, it is a further object of this invention to providemeans for removably securing the abrading elements to their carryingsegments.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed, and more particularly defined by the appended claims, itbeing understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate two complete examples of thephysical embodiments of the invention constructed in accordance with thebest modes so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view diametrically illustrating an abrading machine of theendless band type and showing the application of this invention thereto;

Figure 2 is an' enlarged detail view of one of the segments andillustrating the manner of removably securing the abrading elementthereto;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the component parts of a completesegment including the abrading element, shown separated and in theirproper order of assembly;

Figurue 4 is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which thesegments are supported in their passage through the working zone;

Figure 5 is a detail cross sectional view through a segment taken on theplane of the line 5--5 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, but illustrating a modifiedmanner of securing the abrading elements to their carrier segments; and

Figure '7 is a detail cross-sectional view taken through Figure 6 on theplane of the lines 1-l.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawings, in which likenumerals indicate like parts, the numeral 5 designates the frame of anabrading machine which, as is customary in a machine of this type, issubstantially C- shaped to define an open throat 6. A work supportingtable I is supported on the frame and the space above the table andwithin the throat 6 constitutes the working zone.

Vertically spaced pulleys 8 and 9 are mounted in the frame of themachine, and an endless abrading band indicated generally by the numeralI0 is trained thereover to have one stretch of the band traveldownwardly in a straight line through the working zone.

The band I!) comprises a flexible steel ribbon or tape H of a length toencompass the full orbit of the abrading band and provided with means atthe ends thereof (not shown) for separably connecting the same so as tomake the band endless. Secured fiatwise to the ribbon II are barlikesegments 12. Each segment has a shallow longitudinal groove l3 in theface thereof to reeeive the ribbon I I to which it is secured by rivetsor other fastening means I 4. The rivets 14 pass through the bottom ofthe groove l3 and are relatively close together so that the attachmentof each segment to the carrier ribbon is at a relatively localized areaof the segment. Consequently, flexure of the band around the pulleys isnot inhibited.

Each segment has an abrading element It secured to the front edgethereof, the surface formation of which may be varied to suit the workto be done. In the present instance, the abrading elements shown in oneembodiment of the invention are round bars to provide a curved abradingsurface while in the other embodiment of the invention they aresubstantially square bars to provide a flat abrading surface.

In the first instance, the front edge of the segments has a roundbottomed groove is to fit the curvature of the abrading element and theends of the abrading elements are oppositely mitered to provide inclinedend surfaces l1. Clamping lugs 18 having inclined faces l9 complementaryto the ends I! are drawn down tight onto the segments by screws 20 toremovably secure the abrading segments in place. Dowel pins 2! carriedby the clamping lugs and fitting into appropriate apertures in thesegments guide the clamps for translation toward the edge of thesegment.

With this manner of securing the abrading elements to the segments,spaces are left between the ends of adjacent elements, but with the bandtraveling at a sufficiently high rate of speed, this is notobjectionable.

Where the abrading surface should be continuous, the constructionillustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 may be employed. In this case, theabrading surface of each element is continuous for its entire length,and the ends of the element have notches 22 to receive clamping members23. The clamping members 23 are secured to the ends of the segmentswhich are suitably cut out as at 24 to accommodate the clamping members.As in the other case, complementary inclined sur faces on the abradingelements and the clamps draw the elements tight against the segments.

In lieu of the round bottom groove, IS the edge of the segment to whichthe abrading element is secured may have a square bottomed groove 25 asspecifically shown in Fig. '7 and the back of the abrading element maybe provided with a tongue 26 to fit this groove.

In both cases, the coaction between the clamping members and the groovein the front edge of the segment locks the abrading element in properposition on the segment.

How the abrading elements are made forms no part of this invention. Theymay be made of coarse or fine carborundum, or they may be made bycompressing suitable powdered metal impregmated with diamond dust to thedesired shape.

The back edge of each segment has a deep V- shaped groove 2! to slidablyreceive the correspondingly tapered front edge of a guide and back-up28. The guide and back-up is preferably a bar of brass or other metalsofter than the metal of the segments 12 so as to take the wear. It issuitably mounted in the frame of the machine by supports engaging itstop and bottom ends so that the guide spans the working zone.

The upper end of the guide and back-up is secured to a verticallyadjustable post 29 supported from the overhanging arm of the frame.Mounted on post 29 above the guide and back-up 28 are guide pulleys 30to engage the opposite faces of the segments as they approach theworking zone. The arrangement and spacing of these pulleys is such thatat least two pair spaced verticall along the path of the band engage asegment at one time. Thus, the segments are firmly guided into properalignment with the guide and back-up.

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As shown in Fig. 5, the width of the guide and back-up bar is less thanthat of the segments so that its presence does not interfere with workto be done in relatively narrow channels or passageways.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art that this invention overcomes many of the problems anddifiiculties of past abrading machines.

This application is a continuation in part of the copending applicationof William T. Anderson, Serial No. 516,291, flled December 30, 1943.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an abrading machine, the combination of an endless flexiblecarrier mounted to travel in a straight line through a working zone; aplurality of work performing segments mounted on said carrier, each ofsaid segments comprising a bar-like supporting member secured fiatwiseto the carrier and a bar-like abrading element removably secured to andextending along one edge of the supporting member; a guide and back-upfor supporting the segments as they move through the working zone, saidguide and back-up having a tapered front edge and having an all-overwidth no greater than that of the segments; and the bar-like supportingmember 01 each segment having a tapered longitudinal groove to receivethe tapered edge of the guide and back-up.

2. In an abrading machine: a flexible bar-like carrier mounted to havestraight line movement through a working zone; bar-like segments securedflatwise to said carrier in a manner to permit fiexure oi the carrieraround supporting pulleys and end to end disposition of the barlikemembers as they move through the working zone; an abrading element foreach bar-like segment; means removably securing an abrading element toone edge of each bar-like segment; and a rigid guide and back-up forsupporting the segments in their passage through the working zone, saidrigid guide and back-up having an engaging sliding tongue and grooveconnection with the bar-like segments to rigidly Support the sameagainst direct and lateral thrust applied on the abrading elements.

3. In an abrading machine: a flexible endless band trained aboutsupporting pulleys to have a stretch thereof travel in a straight linethrough the working zone of a machine; bar-like segments securedflatwise to said band with the band recessed into one face thereof; anabrading element for each segment; means removably securing an abradingelement to one edge of each segment, the opposite edge of each segmenthaving a substantially V-shaped longitudinal groove; and a rigid guideand back-up of a length to be simultaneously engaged by a number ofsegments, said rigid guide and back-up having a substantially V-shapededge to fit the longitudinal groove in the segments and having anallover width no greater than that of the abrading elements.

4. A flexible band for abrading machines comprising: a plurality ofsimilar bar-like segments each having a longitudinal groove in one facethereof; an abrading element for each segment; means engaging only theends of the abrading elements and clamping one to one edge of eachsegment; a flexible carrier band received in the longitudinal grooves ofthe segments; and means for securing each segment ata localized areathereof to said flexible band.

5. A band for abrading machines and the like comprising: a plurality offlat bar-like segments each having an abrading element along one edgethereof, said abrading elements being separate from the bar-likesegments; means engaging only the ends of the abrading elements forclamping the same to their respective bar-like segments; and a flexiblecarrier having all'of said bar-like segments secured flatwise thereto.

6. An abrading band for abrading machines and the like comprising: aplurality of identical flat bar-like segments each having a shallowlongitudinal groove in one face thereof and a deep V-shaped groove inone edge thereof; an abrading element for each segment; clamping meansengaging only the ends of the abrading elements for securing the same tothe edge of each segment opposite its V-shaped groove, said clampingmeans and the portions of the abrading elements engaged thereby havingcomplementary inclined faces so disposed that the tightening of theclamping means firmly locks the abrading elements to the segments; aflexible carrier; and means for securing all of the segments to thecarrier with the carrier received in the shallow longitudinal groove inone face 0! the segments and with the securement concentrated atlocalized points on the segments to permit flexure of the band aroundsupporting pulleys as well as straight line movement along a linedefined by a guide slidably engaging in the longitudinal V-shapedgrooves of the segments.

WILLIAM T. ANDERSON.

